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2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(-'N Model.)

. S. B. MINNI'CH. DEVICE EOE DVEEDDMING DEAD GENTEES.

Patented-Nov. L2, 1889.

(No Model.)` Si B.. MINNICH. 2'Shets-S-heet'2,

DEVIGE lEOD OVEEGOMING' DEAD CENTERS. No. 414,984.v Patented Nov. 12, 1889.

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' UNITED STATES? v PATENT OFFICE.

SIMoN n. MrNNIcr-r, oF LANDISVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR To JAooE M. GREIDER, oE SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR OVERCOMING DEAD-CENTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Nc. 414,984, dated November 12, 1889. h

Application filed September 2, 1887. Serial No. 248,645. (No model.)

To all whom-t may concern:

-Be it known that I, SIMON B. MINNICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Landisville, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvem ents in Devices for Overcoming Dead- Centers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for overcoming dead-centers; and it consists in the combination, with the connectin g-rod, of bearings so located as to be engaged by a spring or springs as the Said rod approaches a dead-center and is about to change its movement from the forward to the return or the return to the forward stroke, the spring or springs acting upon the connecting-rod to throw it over Such dead-center, as willbe hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a Side view of my invention, showing the position of the Spring as it is first engaged with a bearing on the connecting-rod as that rod makes its forward stroke. Fig. 2 isa view of the same, showing the .position of the parts as the forward stroke of the connecting-rod is continued. Fig. 3 represent-s the position of the parts with the springin position to force the connecting-rod` over the 'dead-center as the rod is about to change its movement from the forward to the return stroke. Fig. 4- is a top or plan View of the invention as shown in Fig. 3 with the parts transposed. Fig. 5 is a side'view of the several part-s shown in the first three figures in the positions they assume as the connecting-.rod makes the returnstroke.

In the drawings, A represents the connecting-rod, pivoted to the cross-head at g.

AC is the driving-wheel, and m the crank, provided with the pin l, which is engaged by the connectingerod.

In the rst four gures the end D of the connecting-rod, which engages the crank-pin of the driving-wheel, is Z-shaped, and the engagement with the crank-pin is made at the center of the diagonal port-ion which connects the opposite ends of the parallel sides orarms of the end D. A spring B is fastened by one end to the driving-wheel near its center, which extends over that center to and somewhat beyond the periphery of the wheel and carries a roller b at its outer end. This spring is so located that as the driving-wheel revolves the roller h on the end thereof is successively broughtinto contact with the inner edges of the parallel arms of the end D, as Will be explained. The end of one of the parallel arms of the end D is attached to the main portion of the connecting-rod and branches off from that rod with an inclination somewhat toward the front on the side which is opposite to the center of the wheel as the rod makes its forward stroke. Both of the said parallel arms are made thicker than the adjacent parts, the increase in thickness being on the inner sides, so that their edges may form bearings c for the roller b. As the connecting-rod making its forward Stroke reaches the limit of its side movement, the end of the inner parallel arm attached to that rod is engaged by the roller b. By the continued movement of the connecting-rod and driving-Wheel the roller travels over the entire length of the ainn against-which it bears, and, as by reason of that movement the arm is continuously drawn nearer to the center of the driving-wheel, an increasing tension is produced on the spring B. This tension on the spring continues until the roller reaches the outer extremity of the arm. -That occurs as the connecting-rod and crank reach the line of the dead-center, when, the roller b engaging the outer end of the arm over which it has traveled, the rebound of the spring, acting upon that end, forces the rod and crank over the dead-center. Upon the return-stroke the roller en# gages the outer parallel arm and acts in a similar manner to force the connecting-rod over the dead-center as it changes its movement from the return to the forward stroke. The bearings c of the parallel arms of the end D may be made integral with the arms, or they may be formed of separate plates and pivoted at one end to the arms, as shown by dott-ed lines in Fig. l, having the other end made adjustable by set-screws f to regulate the amount of-tensionput upon the spring. In either Vcase the ends of the bearings are rounded.

IOO

2. In a device fer overcoming dead-centers, the combination, with a connecting-rod pivoted to the crank-pin and provided with two bearings, of a spring secured to the driving- Wheel and so arranged as to engage the said bearings alternately as they approach the line of dead-center and exert a pressure to force the c011ueeting-r0d over that center, substantially as described.

SIMON B. MINNICII. Vitnesses:

GEO. A. LANE, WM. R. GERHARD. 

